Am I the only idiot that sticks to the 20 MPH limit?

[QuiQuaiQuod]

Get cars up my chuff revving, cars speeding past, yet theyre never caught. I go just 1 over and I'd prob get stopped!

But apparently the highway code ISN'T law so why do some people take notice of it and is that why most people do NOT?

and most areas where I live are 20 mph now- its ridiculus and prob causes more emissions!

Dg I've recently been on a speed awareness course and the policeman running it used that as an example of an advisory sign

red circle - makes it compulsory.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/519129/know-your-traffic-signs.pdf

seems to agree ?

No I do. But feel like I'm going backwards!

I read somewhere and don't have the link so it may be apocryphal, that the average speed driven in London (I think in rush hour) is 9 mph

It once took me nearly 2 hours to cross 3 miles of Birmingham in rush hour. I could have hopped it faster.

Yes definitely stealth but if there are constant cameras and it is very easy Togo 1 or 2 miles over.

Yes rosetti I think I have learnt to drive by now thanks

Perhaps we need the man in front waving a flag

He made the point that it was the physical shape of the sign that mattered, and you needed to know what type of sign it was even if covered in snow.
Sounds like he was wrong. Which is a bit crap.

Yet there was a -18% reduction in Brighton, without a conclusion due to lack of data to date

There hasn’t been an increase

Yet there was a -18% reduction in Brighton, without a conclusion due to lack of data to date

Read further. There was a similar reduction in areas that weren't 20 over the same period. Which is why you need control groups in research. To stop people that don't understand data coming to stupid conclusions.

At best it appears to do nothing at all. Which would be my actual hypothesis were I doing research on this. But it costs money. Which would be better spent on traffic calming, better public transport, separated bike lanes, loads of other things that actually make us happier, healthier and aren't annoying.

Sounds like he was wrong. Which is a bit crap.

Looking back on this thread I think I missed something and was wrong too . It happens.

My main takeaways from the SAC were: get used to lower speed limits; lower tolerances (being 1 mph over and getting done); much more use of average speed cameras; and various little tips and tricks to determine what the speed limit is at any given moment.

Given I was really cynical before attending, I found it interesting, useful, definitely a behaviour changer (not that I was a speed merchant anyway). Although maybe the most interesting thing were the 23 other attendees (all of whom were older than me ... one guy had never taken a driving test). Mainly because one man summed up all the arrogance some posters here have shown and took it to another level entirely. Knowing there are morons like that on the road certainly means I try to give 100% attention to every second of driving. Including when the car is stopped ("because driving doesn't stop when the car does" ...)

If anyone suggested making them compulsory every 10 years (along with licence renewal) I would have no objection.

Probably going to get flamed here, but if I had to drive at 20mph I'd stop driving. It's ridiculously slow for where I live, and in general ( I would make an exception around schools etc) it's actually dangerous because other drivers get frustrated trying to get past.

What's the point of driving at 20? I'd rather catch the bus.

What's the point of driving at 20? I'd rather catch the bus.

which would have to drive at 20 in 20 zones too ....

Exactly my thought, DGR. Odd logic.

I don't find it odd logic. Why pay tax, insurance and MOT to drive at 20, when I could save the money and catch the bus.

I'm not a speed freak, but I'm not driving at 20 all the time. What happened to common sense?

I don't find it odd logic. Why pay tax, insurance and MOT to drive at 20, when I could save the money and catch the bus.

result

I suppose if you're not confident that you're a good enough driver to drive slowly it makes sense to get the bus (which will take a longer route and just generally take longer, if it even goes where you want to).

What happened to common sense?

I refer you to my post upthread about evidence based policy.

People want their laws and society to reflect their prejudices, not the real world.

I have no idea whether 20 mph zones reduce accidents or not. But given it's the law, what I do or do not think really doesn't come into it, does it ? Like a lot of our laws, really. As long as people think they do the job, why waste time actually seeing if they do. Especially as most people will reject evidence that contradicts their prejudices anyway.

I knew I'd get flamed!!

There's nothing so frustrating as being behind a big car that's capable of doing up to 110 ish driving at 20. What's the point of having such a car?

Btw, I have been driving for 35 years and I'm quite capable of driving at 20. I choose to drive at 30ish ( because that's the speed limit in my area) and I would welcome retesting at regular intervals. Oh, and I've never been prosecuted for speeding.

But I'm not driving at 20!

They've made a few A roads in Brum subject to average speed cameras (A456, A45, A38) and you have to work very hard to speed.

You're very lucky to get into 2nd gear on the Bristol Rd, tbf - with the ridiculous building work that has been going on to put the useless cycle lane in, for so many months. I suspect the Hagley Rd is the same with the tram works and the work round Centenary Square / Paradise Circus, and now they have closed Five Ways underpass. You've got little chance to speed.

I believe some of the limits are to stop pollution that reduces air quality.

Not sure how that works, tbh. I'f I travel through a suburb and spend 7 mins doing it, then surely I'm polluting less than if I'm sitting in my car with my exhaust going for 12 - 15 mins ?

Load of speed humps along the 20mph roads in Birmingham, certainly.

Not near me - they've just put signs up reducing all the 40 mph roads to 30, and the 30mph rds to 20. Nothing to enforce it.

I stick to all speed limits but deeply disapprove of 20mph limits. Terrible for air quality and probably kills more people than it saves.

Love how people just ignore the rules. Like they don’t apply to them???? I don’t think most of these places need 20. But it is the law. If u hit something or do something wrong and u are not doing the legal limit. You are going to be in trouble. And what makes u so special that the law doesn’t apply to you !!!!!

MrsTerry so hitting someone at 20 or 30mph won’t make any difference to their survival rate? Is this what your stating when you say it does nothing at all?

The thing is we haven't been consulted if we want 20mph speeds. It's meant to be a democracy but we are just railroaded over.

I'm happy for it to apply around schools etc as it makes sense.

Meanwhile the dangerous drivers seem to carry on speeding at ridiculous speeds in built up areas or parking on double yellows obstructing traffic but nothing is done

Woodhill have you not voted for your cllr who in turn will be part of these decisions and have you raised your issues? Did you visits your town hall and view the purpose speed limits - they have to go through a proses to implement the speed limits and the public at this point can speak out

it reduced pollution because cars need less fuel at lower speeds.

Since we moved to Germany where speed limits are 30 and 50 km (20 and 30 mph) in residential/towns respectively. 40mph in comparison seems dangerously fast, and 20mph definitely gives you more time to react than 30 does. They don't have loads of ridiculous "speed calming measures" here either to annoy the crap out of everyone. I'd definitely support UK speed limits slowing to 20 and 30mph in built up areas.

OTOH though UK motorway speed limits are set too low :o